League

Ricoh Arena
Spectators: 5204 (Terracing: 4100, Seating: 1100, VIP seats: 4) Oscar Sheringham started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 3rd minute, Jerry Gamble ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Blair Widdrington was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. Derek Marenghi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 7th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that Jerry Gamble's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Blair Widdrington was relentless in the 9th minute of the game. Coventry UTD's Blair Widdrington played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Derek Marenghi in the 15th minute of play. Blair Widdrington showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Derek Marenghi, who was totally free with the ball in the 17th minute. Blair Widdrington didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Jerry Gamble went, in the 19th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-3 was the resulting score. In the 21st minute, Jerry Gamble left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Colchester United fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-4. Dion Jones kicked well hit freekick during the 24th minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Tod Monkman's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Blair Widdrington was relentless in the 27th minute of the game. 28 minutes into the match, Derek Marenghi notched a goal, 0-5, to the right of Coventry UTD's Blair Widdrington. Blair Widdrington was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Blair Widdrington took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Derek Marenghi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Derek Marenghi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. After 33 minutes, Jerry Gamble made it 0-6 with a short kick to the right side. Coventry UTD's Blair Widdrington tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. 37 minutes into the game, Colchester United's Tod Monkman nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Blair Widdrington made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-7. After 40 minutes of play, Colchester United's Jerry Gamble made it 0-8 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Blair Widdrington was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 44thth minute of the game Jerry Gamble who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Coventry UTD's Blair Widdrington was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Derek Marenghi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 47th minute. Blair Widdrington tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-8 lead.

The wind increased when Jerry Gamble made the kick off in the second half. Jukka Leppiniemi made a great header on Colchester United's corner, it was just that Coventry UTD's Blair Widdrington managed to reach the ball for a save. Everyone was convinced a goal was close when Colchester United's Jerry Gamble in the 54th minute lifted the ball towards the upper right corner, but Blair Widdrington was perfectly placed and prevented a goal for Coventry UTD through an amazing save. Derek Marenghi in the 56thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Blair Widdrington, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Derek Marenghi might have been able to make a better finish in the 58th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Blair Widdrington. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Derek Marenghi ran back to his position shaking his head. When Colchester United's Jerry Gamble in the 62nd minute got a chance for a shot 62nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Coventry UTD's goalie prevented a goal. Graham Gardner lost his temper 64 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 63rd minute of the game. One of Coventry UTD:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Colchester United:s goal. Jerry Gamble shot the penalty kick right outside the post. Jerry Gamble fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Blair Widdrington having to interfere. In the 72nd minute, Oscar Sheringham hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 77th minute, Derek Marenghi left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Colchester United fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-10. Derek Marenghi recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 80th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 81st minute, Jerry Gamble reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Blair Widdrington. The goal made the score 0-11. After having played for 88 minutes, Derek Marenghi managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Colchester United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Derek Marenghi was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Jerry Gamble sent away a hard shot on goal in the 90th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. If Derek Marenghi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 90th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Jerry Gamble received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 90th minute. Blair Widdrington tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Orson Lambert kicked well hit freekick during the 94th minute of the match. Derek Marenghi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 98th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When the match was over Colchester United could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Coventry UTD throughout the match.